Star Wars_ I, Jedi - Michael A. Stackpole [90]
Cracken’s face sagged and his mouth slowly opened. “You have no idea where he went, who he was with?”
“None you’d believe.” I let a grim note play through my voice. “Given things Kyp said before he left earlier, his ire seems directed at the Empire. If I had to guess, I’d say he’d be hunting whoever the latest self-styled warlord is, or maybe going after the remnants of Thrawn’s fleet. When he finds a target, you’ll know.”
“An eighteen-year-old kid who grew up in a prison mine in control of a weapon that can destroy star systems.” Cracken scratched at a spot on his forehead. “At least when we were dealing with Imperials we had a chance of predicting their behavior, but a kid who’s angry with the galaxy?”
“Not one of the better days for the New Republic, I agree.”
“You said Luke Skywalker was defeated. What’s his status?”
“He’s hurt and in a coma. No telling when or if he will come out of it.”
Cracken nodded wearily. “So we’re on our own for this one.”
“Right. Ambassador Cilghal will be communicating with Councilor Organa Solo when we have more information on Master Skywalker’s status. Colonel Celchu is going to run a medical team and some supplies out here inside a day from now.” I shrugged. “I’ll keep you informed as I am able.”
“Thank you.”
I hesitated for a second, then looked at him. “Might seem kind of trivial given what I’ve just told you, but any word about Mirax?”
“Not trivial at all, Captain. I admire your restraint in asking.” The general gave me an open stare. “No word, no leads that are panning out. No ransom demands. We’re still looking and have hope.”
“I’m sure you are, and I share your hope. Thank you, sir.” I tossed him a quick salute. “Yavin 4 out.”
TWENTY-TWO
Frustration largely characterized the week between Master Skywalker’s fall and the arrival of his sister and her family. When Ambassador Cilghal had told her what had happened, Leia Organa Solo had wanted to travel to Yavin 4 immediately, but the demands of her office were not such that they could be so easily dismissed. Ambassador Cilghal suggested she could wait until the medical team had arrived and made its evaluation, and promised to keep her informed of any changes.
This direct link with Luke’s sister made Ambassador Cilghal, our newest student, the de facto leader of the academy, at least from the New Republic’s point of view. Kam Solusar still oversaw our instruction, but he didn’t push to expand what we knew, just perfect it. I understood his reluctance to teach us more in Luke’s absence, but this meant Kam was inclined to be conservative in what he allowed to go on at the academy. He kept us all close to the Great Temple and even asked me to curtail my runs. I flat refused to do that, but found myself a circuit that always kept me relatively close to home.
Frustration set in, because with Cilghal and Kam in charge I really had no standing where I wanted it. When the survey team came to see if the Sun Crusher was still in the heart of Yavin, they roundly ignored me. Some shave-tailed lieutenant told me that all information was on a need-to-know basis, and he’d decide when or if I needed to know. Had he any idea who I really was, he’d have been answering “Yes, sir,” and “No, sir” and not daring to breathe unless I gave him leave to do so, but as a Jedi wannabe, I was just seen as “part of the problem.”
Of course, it would have been child’s-play to meddle with his mind and make him think I was not present in the comm center when he filed his report with General Cracken, but I was fairly certain such a capricious use of my abilities would have left me dabbling in the dark side. While I did want to know what he had to report, I didn’t want to